Whiffletree-hook



(No Model.)

A. T. FOX.

WHIFFLETREE HOOK.

No. 436,229. Patentedept. 9, 1890.

Inman/Zo r: 6@ @5% fairness es /Lf/J A UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALBERT T. FOX, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

WHIFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,229, dated September 9, 1890.

Application filed June 26, 1890. Serial No. 356,827. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALBERT T. FOX, of Kenosha, in the county of Kenosha and State of IVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whiiiietree Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ot` this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in whiiiietree attachments; and it consists in the combination, with a whifiletree provided with a spring, key, spur, or pin, of a series of large rings which will fit over the end of the ferrule upon the whifiietree, and which are connected by small rings which allow the large rings sufficient play to be placed over the end of the whifiietree and the hook attached to the other end of the chain and which makes connection with the trace, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to do away with trace-buckles and 'the heel-chains for light and heavy harness, and to provide a chain which is connected directly to the end of the whiiletree and which can be shortened and lengthened at will.

Figure l is a plan view ot' my attachment, showing the chain lengthened out. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the chain shortened up.

A represents the whiflletree, which is provided with a ferrule B upon each end, and in which is placed a spring, spur, or pin C for preventing the large rings D of the chain from slipping off from the end of the whiftletree. The chain is composed of a number of large rings D, which lit over the end of the ferrule, as shown, and which are connected by means of a number of small rings I-I, which allow the large rings any desired amount of play. To the outer end of the chain is fastened a hook I for making connection with the rear end of the trace.

Any one or more of the large rings can be passed over the end of the whifHet-ree when the chain is to be shortened, or removed from the end of the whitiletree when the trace is to be lengthened, and thus do away with tracebuckles for lengthening or shortening the trace, and also with heel-chains.

By doing away with trace-buckles all necessity of punching h oles through the trace is obviated. I

By doing away with the old style of heelchains, which'are stitched to the ends of the traces and which are continually hitting the horses on their hind legs, a great annoyance t0 nervous horses is dispensed with.

In order to keep the large rings from movv ing inward upon the end of the whifetree, a iiange or collar may be formed upon the inner end of the ferrule B.

When all of the rings are folded upon the ferrule, as shown in Fig. 2, a noiseless and` neat device is formed, and by means of which a trace can be lengthened and shortened at will'.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- An attachment for awhifiietree, consisting of a number of large and small links,'which are connected so as to form a chain, the large links being adapted to catch over the end of the whiftletree, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT T. FOX.

Witnesses:

L. D. JONES,

JAMES CAVANAGH. 

